Rug Encyclopedia · Pakistani Rugs
A Pakistani rug is an oriental rug hand-knotted in Pakistan — around Lahore and Peshawar, the modern world’s great hand-knotting revival centres, where weavers make both traditional Bokharas and superb vegetable-dyed revivals of Persian and Caucasian designs.
What is a Pakistani rug?
A Pakistani rug is a rug hand-knotted in Pakistan — above all around Lahore and Peshawar, the modern world’s great revival centres for hand-knotting. Pakistani workshops weave both their own traditions, like the Bokhara, and superb vegetable-dyed revivals of Persian and Caucasian designs — the Peshawar (Ziegler-style), modern Ziegler and Kazak.
The Pakistani rugs we carry
- Bokhara — the classic Pakistani rug: rows of repeating Turkmen guls on deep red, ivory or blue; refined and instantly recognisable.
- Peshawar — vegetable-dyed, softly coloured Ziegler-style rugs woven in Peshawar for Western interiors.
- Ziegler & Kazak (Pakistani-woven) — softened Sultanabad and bold Caucasian designs, hand-knotted in Pakistani workshops.
Shop the Bokhara collection, or browse the full rug encyclopedia.
How Pakistani rugs are made
Pakistani rugs are hand-knotted from hand-spun wool on a cotton foundation, using both the symmetrical and asymmetrical knot depending on the design, and increasingly natural vegetable dyes that give Peshawar and Chobi rugs their soft, antique-look palette and honest abrash.
Hand-knotted vs power-loomed — labeled honestly
A genuine Pakistani rug is hand-knotted, one knot at a time. Power-loomed rugs — often woven in Pakistan too — copy the design but are not hand-knotted, not one-of-a-kind, and won’t wear or age the same way. At Arteverk hand-knotted rugs are the heart of what we do, and any power-loomed piece is always labeled power-loomed; the Construction field on each product page states which it is.
How to choose a Pakistani rug
Choose the classic refinement of a Bokhara, the soft decorator palette of a Peshawar, or a Pakistani-woven Ziegler or Kazak. Pick your size first (see the rug size guide; up to oversize and palace, 12'×15' and larger).
- Real makers & curators. The Malik family — third-generation weavers and curators who commission, curate and restore hand-knotted rugs woven in origin workshops.
- The exact piece you see. Every hand-knotted rug is photographed as the single, one-of-a-kind rug you’ll receive.
- Honest labeling. Hand-knotted vs power-loomed stated plainly on every product page.
Find your Pakistani rug
Browse our hand-knotted Bokhara, Peshawar and Pakistani rugs, or tell us your size and colors and we’ll hand-pick a few one-of-a-kind pieces for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Pakistani rug?
A Pakistani rug is an oriental rug hand-knotted in Pakistan, including traditional Bokharas and vegetable-dyed revivals of Persian and Caucasian designs such as Peshawar, Ziegler and Kazak.
What is a Bokhara rug?
A Bokhara is the classic Pakistani rug, defined by rows of repeating Turkmen guls on a deep red, ivory or blue ground; refined and hard-wearing.
Are Pakistani rugs hand-knotted?
Genuine Pakistani rugs are hand-knotted. Power-loomed rugs are also made in Pakistan; at Arteverk hand-knotted rugs are the focus and any power-loomed piece is always labeled power-loomed.
Are Pakistani rugs good quality?
Hand-knotted Pakistani rugs are prized for hand-spun wool and, increasingly, natural vegetable dyes. Quality varies by knot density, wool and dye.
What size Pakistani rug do I need?
Match the rug to the room so it anchors the furniture. Arteverk carries sizes up to oversize and palace pieces of 12x15 and larger.